Saturday 27th – Windsurf *** The Dip to Landguard – cloudy with light rain later.

Fin – 18.58 knot max., 15.34 knot ave., 7.21 knot hour, 10.77 knot mile, 33.40 km., 8.12 knot alpha.

Fanatic Cat with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 and 39 fin.

After a week of horrendous heat, it hasn’t dropped below 20 degrees day and night for ages the weekend is set to drop, only trouble is the rain forecast which is typical as it is carnival weekend! There is some breeze forecast but NW today and W tomorrow but with low water around mid-day we are a little short of options:( It did rain first thing here in Felixstowe but stopped before the carnival procession and with the wind 15 knots NW dead off I decided to head to The Dip again. I am the only one who sails here with the wind off but it can be a good direction if you are on big kit and I went to Orford lighthouse earlier this year in similar conditions:) I arrived at the beach around mid-day to find several divers practicing in the next groyne, I have never seen that before and after the crowds during the week today was very quiet as it was threatening to rain! There was a learner windsurfer up on kite beach which is a bit dodgy and loads of cats were heading out of the Deben to race. So, I was pretty safe to windsurf today as there were several rescue boats covering the cat racing:) I thought it was a little windier than my last offshore session so rigged 8.5 for the raceboard and took my spares ruck sack just in case. I wobbled off the beach at 12.40 and headed over to Bawdsey bay but the wind was not really strong enough, just the odd gust so I turned and sailed 5 miles down the coast to Landguard arriving there an hour later. After a quick snack I sailed back ending up by the racing committee boat out by the red and white bouy as the cats reached the upwind bouy. It was nice to see the spinnakers go up as they set of on the reaching leg. I had a few runs across Bawdsey bay but only got the odd good gust I could have done with a force more. I then landed on the shingle bank opposite the Felixstowe Ferry Martello tower to a photo opportunity before heading back out to sea with turns diving and the harbour master out fishing for bass:) With the wind still not playing ball I decided to return to the beach which was a gusty beat. It then decided to rain as I packed up, shame the wind was not stronger as with the tide low it would have been good for some flat-water blasting! With the wind from the west there is talk of a trip to West Mersea but the wind looks a little marginal so I will make my mind up in the morning, I can always go to Levington late afternoon for some foil practice?

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